Residents gather outside a community meeting at Immanuel Lutheran Church to talk about the kidnapping of three women. / Getty Images

by Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

by Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

CLEVELAND---Dozens of people gathered Thursday night at a church near the Seymour Avenue home where officials believe Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were held.

At Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, city, county and state officials took questions from residents and announced the establishment of a fund for the three women and their families. Several people questioned what police would be doing to prevent similar incidents while others commended officers for their work over the last decade.

"I personally busted my butt to find these girls and did it with passion and compassion," Police Commander Keith Sulzer told the crowd.

His comments came after several asked about whether police had followed up calls neighbors claimed they made about seeing suspicious activity at Ariel Castro's home.

Sulzer said officers did all they could in the years the women went missing to find them. He also added that emergency dispatchers have also flagged the addresses of the families of DeJesus and Berry as well as Ariel Castro's home to make sure the properties are currently secured.

Meanwhile, much of the meeting was about celebrating the return of the three women. People clapped, cried, and hugged as several commented that finding the women was a miracle.

Officials also announced plans to help the women and their families financially. The Cleveland Courage Fund has been set up by a private charity.

Officials reached out to authorities who worked to set up funds after the shootings at Chadron High School and at Sandy Hook Elementary, Ostry said.

Berry, DeJesus, Knight and their families can use the money for a variety of things including food, clothing, and travel.

Parts of the meeting were tense as some wondered whether police were doing enough to find missing people.

Marcellette Love said her sister Minerva Tripp, 42, went missing in August and that officers haven't been doing enough because Tripp had issues with drugs.

"I don't care what she does, she has a family," she said. "We need to stop brushing people off."

Sulzer promised to follow up with her case.

Henry Senyak said Cleveland police do a good job.

"These officers should be commended," he said, triggering loud applause from the crowd.

Officials at the meeting also stressed that this incident should be a teaching lesson about how criminals can operate in plain sight as well-known community members. They stressed that parents must tell kids to not only avoid strangers' cars but cars from people they know who may be an unlikely threat.

Block associations and other neighborhood efforts were also discussed before the crowd walked quietly down nearby the Castro home. There people lit candles in honor of the three women.

"We don't want these events that have taken place to mark or slow our progress," Ostry said.